Senegal's Second-Rate Strikers Give First-Rate Performance Against Great Britain

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With the likes of Dame N’Doye and Newcastle duo Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse being held back at their respective clubs, rather than representing their country at the London 2012 Olympics games. Senegal’s first appearance in an Olympic football tournament was always going to be a challenge against hosts Great Britain at Old Trafford.

Playing beneath grey, overcast clouds that had rolled their way across the Manchester sky, juxtaposing the afternoon’s previously glorious weather, Senegal were playing their first-ever Olympic football match in the tournament’s 104-year history with over 72,000 spectators looking on. A game, and indeed a whole tournament, in which they would have to play without their three key players, after their clubs refused to release the players amid preparations for the domestic season.

The latter was in fact named in the final 18-strong squad, only to be denied his chance to play at the Olympic Games at the last minute.

Despite these setbacks, Senegal started confidently, forcing the Great Britain defence into action immediately, with Micah Richards looking especially keen. After going a goal down, thanks to a brilliant strike from Welshman Craig Bellamy, Senegal stepped up the pressure, but the British defence held firm. The closest Senegal came in the opening 20 minutes was a rather optimistic bicycle kick from Ibrahima Balde from outside the area.

At this point, the Senegalese attack threat was looking blunt, lacking that sharp edge that players like Demba Ba would have brought to the squad. The lack of a real goal-poacher was obvious. 

However, in the second half, as Micah Richards conceded: “We dropped a little bit too much and encouraged them [Senegal] to come out and play against us.” And play they did, throwing men forward, confidence was once again rife, creating chances which tested Jack Butland’s reputation to the full. After acrobatically saving a Ciss shot tipping the ball over the bar, Danny Rose was left to clear a header off the line from the resulting corner.

As the pressure mounted on the Great Britain defence, and the Senegalese began to dominate in both attack and midfield, N’Doye was hardly missed. Senegal’s No. 10, Mane, who both Micah Richards and Steven Caulker raved about after the game, began causing more and more problems, stretching the defence, leaving gaping holes between the now-struggling back four.

Said Caulker: “They’re a strong physical side with a lot of ability, they showed that today, especially the number 10, he was getting in and making turns, they’re no muppets.”

It was through one of these gaps that the ball slithered into before falling at Kanote’s feet, leaving him one-on-one with the thus far, brilliant Jack Butland. Cool-headed and clearly un-phased by the sheer magnitude of the game, he elegantly scooped the ball over the charging keeper, silencing the home crowd, the few audible murmurs of shock and disappointment failed to drown out the ripple of the ball coming to a stand-still in the back of the Great Britain net.

Before the game, Senegal midfielder Mohammed Diame vowed to surprise the host nation and here, as the African side celebrated in the South-East corner of the stadium, the silence of the near-full capacity crowd spoke volumes.

Reflecting on dealing with—what was on paper at least—a group of adequate rather than dangerous attacking players post-match, Richards made a striking point: “When you don’t know about a player sometimes it’s a little bit harder to know their strengths, when you play against better players you’re always that little bit more aware.”

So perhaps without the well-known players like N’Doye in the squad, Great Britain were guilty of underestimating their opposition?

“To be fair to Senegal,” the Manchester City defender continued, and I couldn’t help detecting an element of surprise in his voice, “they played some good stuff and probably deserved a draw in the end.”

So, with arguably the hardest group game out of the way for Senegal and their goal scoring ability proved, could they cause an even bigger shock and qualify for the quarter-finals ahead of Uruguay or last night’s opponents whom they matched—and arguably bettered—so convincingly.

This piece was written by Phil of The Reporters' Academy, a media production company run by young people. The Reporters' Academy is integrated into the world of media, education and employment, based in two great sporting cities, Manchester and Melbourne, and is officially Inspired by London 2012.

All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted.